KFAI presents a special series of stories on Muslims in Minnesota. The stories aim to illuminate the lives of Minnesota's Muslims and provide listeners greater understanding of the state's wide variety of Muslim residents.
This program is funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York through a partnership with the Institute for Global Studies at the University of Minnesota.

Minneapolis to Mogadishu...Somalis at a Crossroads
Somali immigrants to the U.S. are struggling to keep their community grounded as federal law enforcement officials investigate allegations a handful of young Somali men joined the ranks of a violent militia in Somalia. The immigrants' job is made tougher by internal conflicts stemming from long-standing divisions. In this half-hour documentary, reporter Art Hughes takes a look at how members of the Twin Cities Somali population are reacting to and fighting the negative images and accusations that have been stirred up.

Faith in Hip Hop
Minnesota Muslim rap artists connect with their religion and the original roots of Hip Hop as the voice of a population pushed to the fringe of mainstream culture. Reporter Ramla Bile goes behind the pounding rhythms to find rappers who see a higher purpose for their art.

One Strike And You're Out - Facing the Criminal Justice System
Streetwise immigrants know that a felony conviction could put their immigration status in jeopardy. But under current immigration laws even a minor crime could get a non-citizen immigrant deported. That’s what some young Somali immigrants are learning – after it’s too late. Joel Grostephan finds immigrants struggling to make sense of the court system – with little help from their lawyers.

Wearing Faith On Their Sleeves
Every sports team, radio station, band and cause has its own T-shirt. So why not create a series of T-shirts that celebrate Islam? One Minneapolis company is doing just that, designing fashionable T-shirts on a wide range of Muslim topics. The name of the company: Muslim Tees. Todd Melby takes listeners behind-the-scenes at a company photo shoot and design meeting.

Empowered Muslim Women
What does it mean to be a feminist? What does it mean to be a Muslim woman in Minnesota? Reporter Emily Dussault introduces two local Muslim woman and gives an inside look at their challenges and experiences.

In Search of the Minnesota Muslim
Muslims come from a variety of cultural and professional backgrounds. Reporter Ahmed Naumaan asks a few people what their faith means to their daily lives and whether they are different from other Minnesotans. Their serious statements intermixed with spontaneous humorous remarks and an uncommon twist or two, paint a richly textured picture of Muslim life in Minnesota.

Muslim Immigrants Learn English
Many Muslims are newly arrived immigrants, and acquiring English language skills is a major aspect in gaining acceptance from the broader community. Reporter Sarah Boden explores the frustrations and accomplishments of this timeless experience to get a better understanding of what immigrants are going through.

Music and Sufi Islam in the Twin Cities
Sufism is an ancient religious philosophy which, despite criticism from some modern orthodox Muslims, maintains a strong tie to its Islamic origins. Stephen Manuszak explores the Sufi tradition, its expression in Minnesota, and one key feature of its practice: music.

Muslim Burial Traditions
Minnesota’s Muslim population has expanded by roughly 20,000 people in the past three decades, which has forced the community to create a unique infrastructure in order to fulfill particular religious obligations related to death. Reporter Sarah Boden talks to individuals in the Twin Cities Muslim community about Islam, death, and what steps family and friends take when a loved one passes on.

Schooled in Islam
Public schools have long been a testing ground for the Constitutional separation between government and religion. The strict requirements of Islam are creating some frictions in public educational institutions in Minnesota. Like Catholics, Mormons, Jews and other faithful Americans before them, Muslims are helping distinguish the constantly evolving boundaries between secular and sacred.

Grass Roots Banking Among Muslims
Personal micro-lending is a tradition widely practiced in many countries. The practice has a place in Islam and among Muslims, who view this method of saving and borrowing as an alternative to the conditions set by banks, which can at times contradict the teachings of Islam. Muslim immigrants are finding many other reasons to revive this practice in Minnesota. It's not an operation run by a bank or financial institution. Instead, a group of individuals come together in a money saving and borrowing venture to finance large purchases or provide emergency relief.